Combination mounting and operating mechanism for casement window



June 1957 D. v. CLARK 2,7 5, 5

COMBINATION MOUNTING AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CASEMENT WINDOW FiledApril 18, 1956 INVENIOR D.V. CL A RK ATTORNEY r 2,795,415 Patented June11, 1957 COMBINATION MOUNTING AND OPERATING MECHANISM FOR CASEMENTWINDOW David V. Clark, Jacksonville, Fla.

Application April 18, 1956, Serial No. 578,971

1 Claim. (Cl. 268-119) This invention relates to structures of variouskinds including buildings for human habitation, and which have openingsor windows set back in the wall from the surface and generally referredto as casement windows, the closures or window sashes of which aremounted so that they have more or less limited movement.

The invention relates particularly to the manner of supporting the metalsashes of casement windows and to mechanism by which said sashes may beopened and closed or otherwise operated from the interior of thebuilding, and to thehardware employed, the nature of which determinesthe manner in which the sashes can swing from fully closed position tofully opened non-light- ,obstructing position.

Hinges and operating means for casement windows have not been fullysatisfactory for various reasons, including the fact that they werefrail, did not fit, would jam and stick, were not susceptible of readyadjustment,

lackeddurability, did not permit the window to be disposed both in fullyclosed position and fully open positionflat against the wall of thebuilding, and otherwise failed efiiciently to perform the function forwhich they are intended.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple, compact,relatively strong, liquid-tight, combination pivotal support andoperating mechanism for a metal casement window sash, including ahousing the lower portion of which is rigid and containing acrankshaftbearing and worm and gear operating mechanism devoid ofappreciable lost motion or free relative movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination pivotalsupport and sash opening and closing mechanism which can be readilysecured in place by bolts so. that :the window sash is mounted to swingfreely from a fully closed position outwardly to a fully open position,

substantially parallel to the adjacent wall and by which the operationof opening and closing the window can be accomplished with a minimum ofeffort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination pivotalsupport and window sash operating mechanism including a housing carryinga hinge for a window sash and in which housing is mounted a crankshaftwith a worm thereon and a segmental gear driven thereby and connected tosaid hinge for operating the same, the segmental gear permitting theparts to be assembled in close contact so that lost motion in operationis substantially eliminated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view illustrating one application of the inventionapplied to a metal casement window the window frame being illustrated insection;

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the invention with parts of the building insection;

Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5, a fragmentary vertical detail section.

Briefly stated, the present invention is a window mount and casementwindow sash oscillating mechanism in the form of an elongated bodyhaving an L-shaped bracket at one end and a chamber or gear box in whichis located at its opposite end a hinge pivot to which is attached acasement window sash, two or more of the devices being employed inspaced relation for supporting said sash. The hinge pivot is mounted ina bearing in an upstanding boss or shaft housing of a cover plate for agear box on the under side of which cover plate is mounted a worm gearfixed to the hinge pivot. The lower end of this pivot is journalled in abearing frictionally held in the bottom of the gear box which is adaptedto be filled with a lubricant. An anti-backlash worm gear, preferablysegmental to facilitate assembly in contact with a worm in the gear boxis fixed on a shaft located in a bore or receiving opening in the bodyat each side of the gear box and with friction sleeve bearings for thesame, adapted to be supplied with lubricant from the gear box, removalof such shaft being made possible by a screw plug in an opening throughwhich the worm and supporting shaft can be removed.

Due to the distance between the hinge pivot and the mounting bracket theeasement window shaft is mounted in a position to permit it to swingfrom a fully closed position outwardly to a fully opened positionparallel to the surface of the building. The end of the shaft on whichthe worm is mounted projects from the body a sufficient distance to belocated within the interior of the building and is adapted to have acrank thereon for rotation of the shaft and consequent swinging of thewindow sash to open and close the same. In order to retain the screwplug a set screw may be provided preferably beneath the cover for thegear box. In order to ensure that the cover of the gear box is fixed inplace and liquid tight the cooperating surfaces between the gear box andsurfiaces are inclined so that one fits over the other, the marginaledges of the cover fitting over the inwardly inclined walls of the gearbox housing. In order to ensure the fixed relation of the cover on thegear box housing, the body covering the housing is provided with atransverse channel or groove beside the inclined marginal rim of thegear box and the cover is provided with a corresponding tongue so thatwhen the parts are assembled there can be no relative movement betweenthem.

With continued reference to the drawing, the window mount andoscillating mechanism of the present invention comprises an elongatedbody 10 having an L-shaped mounting bracket 11 at one end and a chamber12 in its opposite end portion. The housing or wall of the chamber 12 isprovided with an inclined surface 13 for engagement with a complimentarybevel surface T4 of a cover 15. The body 10 is provided with a groove 16adjacent one side of the chamber and the cover is provided with athickened tongue 17 so that the parts may be firmly held together infixed relation by means of screws 18. The cover 15 is provided with anupright boss which provides a shaft housing 19 for the reception of ashaft 20 mounted in bearing sleeve 21, such shaft having its lower endin a bearing 22 in a recess 22 in the body 10. The boss 19 is providedat its upper end with a taper 23 for cooperation with the correspondingtaper 24 on a hinge 25 fixed to the shaft 20 by means of a set screw 26,the tapered surfaces 23 and 24 exclude rain and may have a fibre washer27 therebetween for absorbing wear. On the lower portion of the shaft 20within the chamber 12 which forms a gear box is mounted a segmental wormgear 28 fixed to the shaft in any desired manner as, for example, bymeans of a set screw 29. The segmental worm gear 28 has teeth engagingan anti-backlash worm 30 on a shaft 31 in a manner to drive said wormgear by said worm. The shaft 31 is mounted in bearing sleeves 32, 33 and34 in a longitudinal bore 35 and an aligned threaded bore 36 in which ascrew plug 37 is held in place by a set screw 38'. Against the bearing32 and the plug 37 is a collar 39 for limiting movement of the shaft 31)in one direction, a similar collar 40 being provided for limitingmovement of the shaft in the opposite direction.

The shaft 31 is adapted to be connected by a coupling 41 with a crank42, the shank of which is rotatably retained within a bracket 43 securedin place by means of screws or other fasteners 44. The hinge 25 has anL- shaped extension 46 with vertical and horizontal arms for engagementwith the easement window sash, the upright arm having a reduced upperextremity 47 and a reduced lower extremity 47 to enable it to fit withina slot in the sash 45, the upright and horizontal portions being adaptedto be attached by suitable fasteners to the upright and horizontalportions of the sash in any suitable manner as by screws 48 and nuts 49.The horizontal arm is provided with a flange 56 having apertures 51through which pass means for fastening flange 50 to base of sash 45. Thevertical arm of the mounting bracket ll has a recess 52 forming ashoulder on the end opposite the chamber 13. Said recessed portionpasses through a slot in the window frame 53 and is attached thereto byscrews 54 and nuts 55 or other suitable means. The horizontal arm passesthrough a slot in the base of the window frame 53 and is secured byscrew 56 and nut 57.

Thus, by rotation of the crank 42 rotary movement will be imparted tothe shaft 31, the worm 30, segmental worm gear 28, shaft and hinge 25,with the casement window sash 45. On account of the upstanding boss orthickened shaft housing 19, the shaft 20 will be firmly and securelyheld so that the sash of the easement window may be easily moved byoperation of the crank 42. The joint between the hinge and the shaftbearing housing 19 due to their inclination serve to exclude rain fromthe joint. ln like manner, the cover 15 for the chamber which forms thegear box due to the inclined surface fits tightly over such gear box andexcludes water therefrom and likewise prevents the escape of lubricant.On account of the worm gear 28 being segmental, its removal fromengagement with the worm can be readily accomplished and the parts madeto fit closely together with minimum clearance and thereby eliminatelost motion.

It will be apparent that the window sash can be swung from the closedposition to a position substantially 180 therefrom so that in the openposition the sash will be closely adjacent the exterior surface of thewall thereby avoiding interference with the passage of persons includingadults and children who may walk past the open window on the exteriorside. The window may be used inside of buildings and where such windowopens onto a porch, patio, corridor or hallway, the marked advantages ofhaving the window open to the position substantially parallel with thewall will be apparent, by pre- 4 venting the possibility of persons orthings contacting the open window.

It will be readily apparent, therefore, that the present invention issimple, strong, durable, self-lubricating and provides a rigid butoscillatable support for a casement window sash and which can be openedor closed from the interior of the building.

What is claimed is:

A casement window operating mechanism comprising a horizontally disposedelongated body, means to secure one end of the body to the frame of acasement window adjacent the lower pivoted edge of the window, said bodyhaving an upwardly opening lubricant retaining chamber completely closedat the bottom, said body hav ing a horizontally disposed longitudinalbore opening into said lubricant receiving chamber and opening throughthe outer and inner ends of said body, fixed bushings in the innerportion of said bore, the outer portion of said bore having threads andbeing of a size to permit the entry and removal of a worm and its shaft,a bushing threaded on its outer periphery mounted in said outer portionof said bore, a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in said fixed andthreaded bushings, a worm of a size to pass through said outer threadedbore mounted on said horizontal shaft, collars on said horizontal shaftto cooperate with the adjacent fixed bushing and the threaded bushing, avertically disposed bushing mounted in the bottom of said casing andopening upwardly, a cover having a downwardly extending flange portionmounted on said body closing said lubricant receiving chamber, anupwardly extending boss on said cover and having a bushing therein,means to secure said cover on said body, a vertically disposed shaftmounted in the bushing in said body and the bushing in said boss, saidshaft projecting above the upper end of said boss, a sash mountingbracket having a downwardly opening socket adapted to receive theprojecting end of said vertical shaft, a segmental worm gear mounted onthe lower end of said vertical shaft and having an untoothed portion ofa size to clear said worm when the worm is in operative position wherebythe worm can be mounted in position prior to the mounting of saidsegmental worm gear whereby said segmental worm gear can be positionedwith the cutaway portion adjacent said worm to permit easy assembly,said collars on said worm shaft abutting the adjacent bushings wherebythe end play of said worm shaft can be eliminated and the adjustment canbe made to prevent lost motion and rattling of the window.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,299,338 Meyer Oct. 20, 1942 2,304,960 Schane Dec. 15, 1942 2,373,197Ostrander Apr. 10, 1945 2,536,920 Ducanis Jan. 2, 1951

